Year 10 students spent the day working with organisations in Otley. Students worked on community projects with Leeds City Council Park Rangers on the Chevin, Otley Parish Church, the Bridge Church, Otley Library, Spring Gardens Care Home, Wildlife Friendly Otley, Otley & District Talking Newspaper and in Otley primary schools.

Tasks included balsam bashing, gardening, maintenance, reading with pupils, working as librarians and creating displays and flowerpot scarecrows!

Dave Cherry from Otley Parish Church said “ I was impressed how hard they worked. They were all great young students and polite and friendly.  They have had a noticeable effect on improving our Church Grounds.”

In school, Year 10 students worked with Otley 2030 to consider what young people can do to make Otley a greener place.

Other students in school hosted visitors from across the community.

Poet Simone Yasmin led sessions for Years 8 and 9 entitled ‘Let’s Talk About Race’, talking frankly about her experiences.

Year 7 learned about WaterAid and experienced the difficulties faced by people who have to carry water from the well to their homes, taking part in a WaterAid obstacle course. They also worked with Leeds City Council’s Flood Risk Management team and the Environment Agency, visiting the Otley flood alleviation works.

Year 8 students took part in an energy challenge led by Richard Smith from School Energy Efficiency, and learned about the school’s solar panel scheme.

Former Prince Henry’s student Chloe Tear led workshops with Year 9, on the theme of understanding disability, presenting her lived experience and asking students to think about invisible disabilities as well. Chloe is an award-winning disability activist and blogger, who works as a content designer for Scope.

Local resident Judith Rhodes spoke movingly to Year 9 about her family’s experiences of life and death under the Nazis. Judith’s mother, who was Jewish, was sent to England on the Kindertransport. Judith’s talk ‘The Little Suitcase’ is named after the suitcase which was all her mother was allowed to bring with her.

“Our links with the community are very important to us and we always try to impress on our students that global citizenship, in all its guises, begins with how we lead our lives each and every day.” said Christopher Lillington, Assistant Headteacher, who organised the day.